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Funeral procession with two coffins – one white and one black. The Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca stamps on the reverse of these postcards suggest that this may be the funeral procession for Rafael and Vicente Acevedo, who were executed on Aug. 6, 1926. (“Cristero Rebellion Martyrs photo album and postcard collection.” 2023, November 13. https://sites.nd.edu/rbsc/cristero-rebellion-martyrs-photo-album-and-postcard-collection) By Vero Gutiérrez Staff Writer In 1926, many Catholics in Mexico took up arms against the Mexican army and began what became known as the “Cristero War.” Although most bishops and even Pope Pius XI agreed that violence was not the way to resolve the conflict, the brutal war was to continue for three bloody years. On November 18, 1926, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Iniquis afflictisque (“On the Persecution of the Church in Mexico”) to denounce the violent anticlerical persecution. In 1924, Plutarco Elias Calles, known for openly promoting an anticlerical government, was elected president. Two years later, in 1926, Calles used Article 130 of the 1917 Mexican Constitution to justify the promulgation of the “Calles Law.” This interpretation of Article 130 limited the number of priests, required a license and registration with the authorities to practice as a priest, prohibited foreign priests from exercising their ministry and forbade any public manifestation of the faith, such as processions and the celebration of Mass. Shortly thereafter, in an effort to protest the “Calles Law,” an economic boycott was organized through the newly formed National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty, founded in 1925 by several groups, including the Knights of Columbus. The League urged people not to pay taxes, buy products marketed by the government, or buy lottery tickets. In addition, numerous protests were carried out, and all legal means to repeal the “Calles Law” were tried. However, these protests provoked even more radical measures of restriction, including the persecution of Religious, priests and laity. The lower and western states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco, Aguascalientes and part of Zacatecas felt the conflict intensely. The bishops of Mexico decided that public worship should be suspended for the safety of the faithful. However, they gave priests the freedom to continue their ministry at their own risk. Despite the non-violent efforts to restore justice, many priests were shot without trial, often testifying to their faith before their executions and offering forgiveness to their executioners. Twenty-five of these martyred priests were later declared Saints by the Catholic Church. Members of the Mexican Army also shot Blessed Father Miguel Agustin Pro. His cause for canonization is currently in process (see Saints, page 16). There were also lay martyrs who were declared Saints, such as Jose Sanchez del Rio, a 14-year-old boy who had the soles of his feet cut off and was forced to walk to a grave where he was shot. Hostilities intensified in 1927 and continued through 1929, resulting in the deaths of 90,000 Catholics. Those who resisted the army were mostly composed of peasants and veterans of the Mexican Revolution. The resistors became known as the “Cristeros” because their battle cry was “Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long Live Christ the King!”). The rebellion ended by diplomatic means brokered by the American Ambassador Dwight W. Morrow, with financial relief and logistical assistance provided by the Knights of Columbus. After President Plutarco Elias Calles left the government, and the new president, Emilio Portes Gil was installed, a peace pact was signed on June 21, 1929, finally putting an end to the Cristero persecution. The new government agreed to return Church property if the Catholic Church in Mexico agreed to cease its participation in the nation’s political life. Testimonies of lay people who participated in the Cristero War Geronimo Solis (Great-Grandfather of Francisco Uribe, Parishioner of the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Boise) Francisco Uribe, a parishioner at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Boise, said that his maternal great-grandfather, Gerónimo Solís, who was born in Teocuitatlán, Jalisco, was a member of the group of Guadalupanos. When the Cristero War broke out, he had already moved to the city of Concepción, Buenos Aires, Jalisco, where he was married and the father of nine children. Members of the army arrested Solis while he was working in the fields because he was a member of a religious group. Federal forces put a noose around his neck and began his execution. Providentially, a group of friends realized he had been captured and managed to sever the rope with their shotguns, saving him from certain death. Undaunted, Solis and his family later sheltered a priest who was being hunted by the army. The family hid the priest in a room where firewood was kept. According to Uribe, the Army officer said, “We know you have a priest hidden here.” Without hesitation, Uribe’s great-grandfather is remembered to have replied, “There is no priest here, and you can go in and look.” The Army searched the whole house but could not find the priest. The soldiers even thrust their swords into the woodpile, but the priest was safefly hidden deep within the huge mountain of wood. Later, the priest was moved to the forest and the family brought him food for a week until he was out of danger. They even supplied him with a horse so he could leave town. When the situation in the country was safer, Uribe’s great-grandfather and his family received a visit from the priest, who came to thank them for risking their lives to save him from his persecutors. Inés Villa (Great-Grandmother of Father Camilo García, Pastor of St. Nicholas in Rupert) “When I was a seminarian, I always liked to visit my great-grandmother during my vacations because she was a very good conversationalist, and I liked to listen to her stories, like this one about the times of the Cristero War in Mexico,” said Father Camilo Garcia. Inés Villa was baptized in the Cathedral of Tacámbaro, Michoacán, and lived most of her life in Tecario, a very small town 30 minutes from Tacámbaro. Tecario, a small village surrounded by mountains, was the ideal place to hide from the soldiers who hunted Catholics. The parents of Father Camilo’s grandmother had to be vigilant and hide their daughters in the bushes to protect them from the soldiers who came to loot the houses and abuse the women. During the persecution of the Church, the priests went into hiding, but they continued to visit families to encourage them to pray and they celebrated the sacraments in secret when they could. Father Camillo’s grandmother, Inés Villa, who was a teenager during the Cristero War, survived thanks to the care of her father and mother. She died in 2010 at the age of 104. Father Garcia related that the first rector of the Seminary of Tacámbaro, Father José Ramírez, was one of the priests who died as a martyr during the Cristero War. Like the boy St. José Sanchez del Río, Father Ramírez was martyred by having the soles of his feet cut off and then being dragged by horses to the cemetery where the soldiers shot him. Ramiro Terriquez (The father of Father Enrique Terriquez, retired priest) Ramiro Terriquez was born to a Catholic family. His father, a hard-working man who knew many trades, worked as a farmer as well as a barber. When Ramiro was only 15 years old, soldiers captured him because he was a messenger for the Cristeros. The army was taking him to be hanged when the villagers intervened to free him. They told the soldiers that this boy, Ramiro, was the son of Mr. Terriquez, who, days before, had been working as a barber for the soldiers. They released him in recognition of the service his father had given them. Ramiro Terriquez and Soledad Santana, father and mother of Father Enrique Terriquez. (Courtesy photo/Father Enrique Terriquez). Many years later, when Father Enrique decided to become a priest, he was sent from Mexico to study in a seminary in the United States. Church authorities in the United States had opened the seminary years before, during the Cristero War, to help the Mexican Church by housing its seminarians. This institution, originally for seminarians in exile, was in an old hotel in Montezuma, New Mexico. The 7,000-square-foot facility in the middle of the mountains was called the Pontifical National Seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Deacon Thomas Mannschreck, director of Prison Outreach, visits a Boise prison. (ICR photo) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The Diocese of Boise Prison Outreach is once again serving all correctional facilities in the State of Idaho. The COVID pandemic halted the ministry for nearly two years, from 2020 to 2022. “Slowly but surely, we are adding volunteers,” said Deacon Mark Geraty, volunteer coordinator for Prison Outreach. “We are getting volunteers to independent status, which means they’ve had at least 24 hours of volunteer service inside the prison. Before that, they must be accompanied by an experienced volunteer.” Volunteers include laypeople, priests and deacons who minister in about 13 prisons that house more than 8,000 incarcerated men, women and young people. They lead scripture studies, catechetical programs, prayer, Mass and Reconciliation. When priests are not available, Communion services are offered by deacons. The ministry hopes to add Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) classes soon, Deacon Geraty said. Volunteers serve as far north as Orofino and Cottonwood, south of Boise, west to Nampa and Caldwell and east to Pocatello and St. Anthony. “We also have responsibility for incarcerated men from Idaho being housed in the Arizona Department of Corrections,” Deacon Geraty said. More than 90 percent of persons serving time in prison will be released, according to the Idaho Statistical Analysis Center, said Geraty. About 40 percent of those released are likely to be charged with a new crime within three years. “What is a demonstrable, incontrovertible element in a meaningful reduction of recidivism is a genuine and sincere connection to a community of people with built-in accountability standards,” Geraty explained. To help build those connections, Deacon Geraty is requesting that subscriptions of the Idaho Catholic Register be donated to prison residents. “Getting the Idaho Catholic Register in front of people in prison is an important first step, right along with volunteers behind the walls who bring the light of the gospel right into a place that needs it most.” To help with this effort, Communications Director and Editor of the ICR, Deacon Scott Pearhill, has added a prison donation button to the ICR subscription page on the Diocese website. If writing a check, simply note in the memo portion: “Prison Subscription.” For more information about the Diocesan prison ministry, visit catholicidaho.org/prison-ministry. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Mothers Angélica Gutiérrez, back left, María de Lourdes Sedano, back left, and Oneida Martínez are at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Boise. (ICR Photo/Vero Gutiérrez) By Veronica Gutiérrez Staff Writer TWIN FALLS - Three religious Sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Conception have arrived in Twin Falls from Mexico to serve as missionaries at St. Edward the Confessor Parish for five years. They are Sisters Lourdes Sedano, Angelica Gutiérrez, and Oneida Martínez. The Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Conception was founded in Mexico City on May 12, 1945. Its main charism is evangelization through educational and parish ministries. The Congregation is composed of 87 Sisters. Their house of formation is located in Tacámbaro, Michoacán. They run 18 Catholic schools in Mexico, with grades from preschool to high school. The three Sisters came to Twin Falls through the exchange program involving the Diocese of Boise and Catholic Extension, in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. This program allows women religious from Latin American congregations to serve among Latino immigrant populations in the United States. These organizations are responsible for providing resources to support the Sisters as they assist in pastoral ministry at St. Edward the Confessor Parish, helping them learn the language and continue their graduate studies. Mother María de Lourdes Sedano (Madre Lulú) While it is common in the United States to refer to religious who have completed their formation as “Sisters,” in Mexico they are often called “Mothers” (“Madres” in Spanish). Mother Sedano is the local superior and was born in Ario de Rosales, Michoacán, Mexico. She is the third of nine children. She grew up in a very Catholic family, and from childhood, was involved in the sacramental formation of children in her parish. As a high school student in one of the schools of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Conception, she felt a definite attraction to religious life. This interest began when she was ten years old, but it was not until she was 15 that she entered the community. “Before I made this decision, I never imagined that I would become a religious, that I would be a teacher in a Catholic school or work in parish ministry, but God’s plans are great,” Mother Sedano said. “I remember being given many warnings about religious life before I entered, and when I was asked, ‘Are you willing to do all this?’ — my answer was always, ‘Yes.’” She entered the formation house in 1989 and spent a month and a half as an aspirant, two years as a postulant, and two years as a novice. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education. She made her first vows in 1993 and has been a teacher for 17 years in various Catholic schools. “I like my mission. I like what I do. I love my vocation. I enjoy it, and I try to do it the best I can,” Mother Sedano said. Prayer at the beginning of the day is a priority in her community life, strengthening her work. In this new community in Twin Falls, the Sisters already have plans to form an essential ministry. Although she is a little anxious about learning a new language, she is sure that she will put all her efforts into learning and being able to offer helpful ministry to the community. “I come here to Twin Falls with great joy to share my life with the community. I am open to listening to the people. I feel happy with this mission and ready to meet their needs and share the Word of God. Mother Sedano, who likes to be called Madre Lulú, enjoys watching educational films, walking and dancing. Mother Angélica Gutiérrez (Madre Angie) Mother Gutiérrez was born in Villa Madero, Michoacán. She comes from a culturally Catholic family, but not a practicing one. She is the oldest of 13 siblings and said she never imagined she would be a religious Sister, as she wanted to remain single. “I thought that was for people who are crazy and ugly,” she said, laughing heartily. She started going to church on her own when she was 16 years old. She was drawn to participate in the youth retreats. She became involved in catechesis for adults and children and began helping older adults who could not read and write to learn these skills. When she turned 20, the restlessness for consecrated life was born. “Within three months, I decided I wanted to be a nun and became interested in learning more about consecrated life. I thought all religious were the same; I didn’t know there were different congregations, and I thought they prayed all the time and never saw their family.” That same year, on February 9, 1997, she entered the formation house of the Servants of the Immaculate Conception. ‘Thank God I didn’t do a lot of research because if I had known they got up at 5 a.m., I certainly wouldn’t have gone with them!” Mother Gutiérrez said, laughing. “I have 21 years of religious life, and I have always been happy in the different communities where I have been. I think the vow of obedience does not take away my freedom because we live a better freedom according to what God wants. Fulfilling my vows has made me happy.” Mother Gutiérrez has a bachelor’s degree and has worked for ten years with young people in parish ministry, and she loves community life. “I don’t like to be alone, and knowing I’m always with someone makes me happy,” she added. “Here in Idaho, I want to do a lot of good for people, to make my life useful to them.” As for her favorite hobbies, she likes to take walks with company, talk, eat ice cream and enjoy her breaks. She prefers to be called Madre Angie. Mother Oneida Martínez (Madre One, pronouned “Oh-nay”) Mother Martínez was 17 when she entered the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Conception. She was born in Nocupetaro, Michoacán and has four brothers and sisters. “I come from a Catholic family, but we were not very religious, so my call to consecrated life was a little strange,” said Mother Martínez. “I was very spoiled being the only daughter at home, and I did not participate in church activities. But one day, I decided to attend a vocational retreat organized by the Servants of the Immaculate Conception in my city. At the retreat, a question was asked that echoed in the ears of Mother Martínez, who was only 17 years old: “What do you want from yourself?” Mother Martínez explained, “When I returned home later that day, I spent the whole evening with that question going round and round in my head. I realized I needed to spend some time with the nuns in order to answer that question. When I told my parents, they didn’t believe me, until they saw me packing my suitcase.” My father was sure that on the third day, I would want to come home, and the truth is, I did; on the third day, I wanted to go back home. I decided to stay with the nuns just a few more days because I still had not finished answering the question. I knew that I would not get the answer if I returned home. I called my parents and told them I would stay for eight more days. Mother Martinez says that her father was right again when, after receiving the call from his daughter, he told his wife, “She is not from here anymore.” He knew she had already chosen a path: Consecrated life. When the eight days of her vocational experience were over, the young Oneida no longer wanted to return home and requested permission to enter the congregation. “I wanted to discover what God wanted from me, and I entered as an aspirant on May 13, 2012. I completed my postulancy and two years of novitiate, and on August 17, 2013, I made my temporary vows. On August 19, 2019, I made my perpetual vows.” Mother Martínez has a degree in preschool education. She has worked in missions with children and the sick as a religion teacher in primary and secondary schools and as an assistant in a boarding school for young university students with limited resources. She has also ministered in parishes and communities with high crime rates. “Listening to people enduring these problems prevents them from feeling alone, and it is good for them to know that someone is with them,” said Mother Martínez. When she was very young, Mother Martinez always wanted to have a sister, and God has blessed her with many sisters in her congregation. “Having someone close to me as a sister is the most gratifying thing I have ever experienced,” she said. “In my free time, I always look for something to do, like handicrafts, knitting, reading and getting to know new places.” Mother Oneida Martínez likes to be called Mother One, pronounced “Oh-nay.” Regarding their work with young people, the three Sisters agreed that sometimes it is difficult to understand them, but they also have lessons for adults. The most important thing is to give them confidence, to listen to them and get to know their reality without judging or isolating them. Mother Superior Antonia Saucedo, the head of the order, expressed her gratitude to all the people of Idaho for their welcome of the three Sisters who will serve in Idaho. The Sisters will support Father Julio Vicente, pastor of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Twin Falls, and other parishes in the deanery. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Top left: Bishop Tod Brown retired as Bishop of Orange, Calif. in 2012. (Courtesy photo/Diocese of Orange) Top right: Bishop Tod Brown with Saint John Paul II. (Courtesy photo/Diocese of Orange) Right middle: Bishop Tod Brown with Bishop Sylvester Treinen, in Boise, 1989. (ICR photo/Archives) Bottom middle: Father Wekerle, left, with Bishop Brown and Father Flores in Sun Valley in 2023 . (Courtesy photo/Father Wekerle) Bottom left and right: Bishop Tod Brown (Courtesy photo/Diocese of Orange) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The Most Reverend Tod Brown, D.D. died on Sunday, Oct. 15, surrounded by friends, family and brother priests. He was 86. “I would say that he was a transformational, visionary bishop,” said Father Ron Wekerle, pastor at Our Lady of Snows Parish in Sun Valley, who was ordained by Bishop Brown in 1990. “Bishop Brown initiated many pastoral, administrative and financial changes to the Diocese of Boise.” Bishop Brown was appointed the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Boise following the retirement of Bishop Sylvester Treinen in 1988. He was ordained and installed as bishop of the Diocese on April 3, 1989, following 25 years of the episcopate of Bishop Treinen. “Bishop Brown promoted a pastoral theology and systematically engaged the entire diocese in a conversation about how we could better care for the needs of parishes, given the dwindling number of priests and seminarians,” Father Wekerle said. “Almost single-handedly, he put the Diocese on sound financial footing, especially regarding priest retirement. He was a very shy man, but he supported the priests, especially in times of great need. He provided priests with the necessary resources to be the pastoral leaders they were called to be, including providing them additional education.” Bishop Brown was born in San Francisco on November 15, 1936, the first of two children born to George and Edna Anne Brown. His brother, Daniel Brown, lives in Orinda, California, with his wife Jeanne. He has two nieces, one nephew and six grand nephews. Bishop Brown received his early education at various schools in Northern California. His seminary education and formation were at Ryan Seminary in Fresno, St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo and the North American College in Rome, Italy. He earned a B.A. from St. John’s Seminary, a STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and a master’s degree in Biblical theology and education from the University of San Francisco. Bishop Brown was ordained to the priesthood on May l, 1963, for the Diocese of Monterey in California. After serving the Diocese of Boise for nine years, he was installed as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Orange on September 3, 1998. During his 14-year episcopate at Orange, the Diocese acquired the 34-acre Crystal Cathedral, previously belonging to Orange County’s evangelical community, and consecrated the landmark as Christ Cathedral for the Diocese of Orange. Bishop Brown retired in December of 2012. The vigil service for Bishop Brown is at Holy Family Church in Orange, Calif. at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Mass of Christian Burial for him is at Christ Cathedral in Orange at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30. A memorial Mass is being celebrated at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 807 N. 8th St., in Boise at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30. All the faithful are invited to attend. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Frank Casabonne - Chair of Bishop Kelly’s Board of Governance By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Bishop Kelly High School is pleased to introduce members of our Board of Governance to the readers of the Idaho Catholic Register. BK’s Board of Governance collaborates with the Diocese of Boise to formulate policies and plans that enable Bishop Kelly to reach their agreed-upon goals. Frank Casabonne believes Catholic education is essential at all levels of learning. “I love our Catholic schools,” said Cassabone, the Chair of Bishop Kelly’s Board of Governance. “I enjoy being a part of the continuation and betterment of Bishop Kelly.” Cassabone attended Catholic schools for all his education, from elementary school to college. He and his wife Janet are parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Boise. All three of their children went to St. Mary’s School and are Bishop Kelly Alum-knights: Nicole, ‘02, Patrick, ‘05 and Robert, ‘13. They are also grandparents to six aspiring Knights, three of whom currently attend St. Mary’s Catholic School in Boise, two who are students at St. Ignatius in Meridian, and one who is not yet school-aged. The Board of Governance is responsible for the operation of Bishop Kelly and has 12 members. There is a representative from each of the seven parishes in Ada County and one from St. Paul’s Parish in Nampa. The superintendent of schools, Tammy Emerich, and the president of the Bishop Kelly Foundation, Jeff Lliteras, are also on the board. The two priests on the board for this year are Father Vitalis Onyeama, pastor at Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian, and Father Germán Osorio, rector at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise. The board generally meets once a month and hears reports from four committees: Mission and Catholic Identity, Operations and Policy, Buildings and Grounds and the Finance Committee. The principal, Dr. Sarah Quilici, the president of the Foundation and the superintendent also provide information. The only employee of the Board of Governance is the president of Bishop Kelly, Bill Avey. “Working with finances is the most difficult part of being on the board,” Cassabone said. “You need the funds to run the school, but you don’t want to make the tuition prohibitive.” The financial aid from the Bishop Kelly Foundation has been wonderful for families who otherwise could not send their kids to Bishop Kelly.” Cassabone said he is passionate about young people learning about and practicing their faith. He is excited that Bishop Kelly students can encounter Jesus in their classrooms, through their activities and athletic endeavors, and alongside their friends and classmates. Cassabone, along with BK Chaplain Father Greg Vance and members of BK’s administration, have worked to create fun and meaningful opportunities for students to grow in their Catholic faith. During his four-year tenure on the board, Bishop Kelly has added a full-time Chaplain to the staff, increased retreat opportunities for students, launched an initiative to bring more faith formation into the Athletics program at BK, and began offering weekly adoration to students, staff, and parents. Cassabone wants Bishop Kelly students to feel engaged and connected to their home parishes. “We need more Bishop Kelly students to demonstrate Catholic leadership in their home parishes by participating in liturgies, serving as readers and Eucharistic Ministers, and engaging with the younger students in our Catholic grade schools. When this happens, it greatly benefits the Catholic community in Idaho,” he said. Cassabone has also been a part of strategic planning at BK. “I believe that Bishop Kelly’s new strategic plan will encourage and give opportunities for faith formation not just for BK students, but also for faculty, staff, parents, and the greater BK Family and community.” In addition to providing valuable input for BK’s new Strategic Plan, he led the board through a season of change with Bill Avey stepping into the role of President after the retirement of Rich Raimondi in 2022, and Dr. Sarah Quilici leading the school as Principal after Mike Caldwell’s retirement last spring. Cassabone’s care and commitment to BK help to ensure the school continues to fulfill its mission to “educate and develop students in the Catholic tradition - spirit, mind, and body.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

This year’s Idaho Catholic Women’s Conference, held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nampa, exceeded attendance expectations. (Photo ICR/ Vero Gutiérrez ) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer BOISE – “Everlasting Love” was the theme of this year’s Idaho Catholic Women’s Conference at St. Paul’s Parish in Nampa. Almost 480 attended in person, and more than 290 women participated in the conference online, with 13 watch parties averaging 20 women. It was by far the largest conference in the ten years since its inception. “All three speakers were very complimentary of our conference and the women in attendance,” said Carol Brown, director of Marketing and Community Relations at Salt & Light Radio. Bishop Peter Christensen of the Diocese of Boise celebrated Mass at the conference’s opening. “When a person knows they’re loved, they can bear almost anything,” Bishop Peter said in his homily. He further explained the foundation of each person’s knowledge of love comes from their first encounters with his or her mother. Just as an infant awakens to the relationship of love between herself and her mother, a similar awakening happens to a person at baptism. A participant at the 2023 Idaho Catholic Women’s Conference in a moment of personal prayer. (ICR photo /Vero Gutiérrez) “I think our priests would agree that when you baptize a child, there’s a different look in the child’s eyes. You can look in the eyes and see eternity. It’s a glorious moment, even if the child is crying. That life changes, and the gift of faith is given. It gives the ability to recognize there is a God who created us and cares for us, a God who loves us deeply and will do so for all eternity,” he said. Reflecting on Jeremiah 31:3, in which God says to Israel through the prophet, “With age-old love, I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you,” Bishop Peter asked the assembly to consider God’s great love for each of them. “Can you hear, my sisters, these words spoken to you by God? You, my beloved daughter, in you, I am well pleased. I am so pleased with you.” Although we can give reasons why God shouldn’t be pleased with us, “God still cares for us and is pleased with us,” he said. Bishop Peter Christensen celebrates the opening Mass with Eternal World Television Chaplain Father Joseph Mary and Father Goodluck Ajaero, SMMM, Parochial Vicar of Saint Paul’s in Nampa. (ICR photo /Vero Gutiérrez) “Every act of true selfless love we receive and give bears fruit because love is of inestimable value. Love builds a solid foundation, giving us confidence to live the life we’re called to live. That confidence is set strong in the Lord through baptism.” “How we live our lives, especially a life of faith, can make a difference in the way we see the world. In faith, we can see with gratitude and that we are blessed,” he said. “You are loved. You are not alone. God is walking with you. He’ll be with you through thick and thin. He loves you with an age-old love, and his mercy is everlasting.” This year’s keynote speakers were Emily Wilson, Sister Faustina Maria of the Sisters of the Children of Mary, and Father Joseph Mary of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal World (MFVA). Emily Wilson , speaker, author and worship leader, encouraged women to slow down in their busy schedules and become aware of God’s love for them and the “bouquets” of gifts He gives them daily. The key to this, she said, is vulnerability. Women often resist vulnerability because others have abused their openness and hurt them. “The Lord never uses our vulnerability against us,” Wilson said. “His heart is always a safe, sacred place for our vulnerable selves.” She said that being blessed by God, who loves us, is deeper than what we possess or do. God’s blessings complement our identity as God’s beloved. “He says, ‘You are my beloved. My everlasting love is for you personally.’ God is blessing you throughout your life, showering you with love, with beauty and speaking the truth of who you are every single day. The question for you is: Are you paying attention?” said Wilson, explaining that we often keep our lives too full for God. We become so busy we don’t take time to pray or to be present in the moment to hear Him speaking to our hearts. Everyday, we need to choose. We can choose to listen to God’s voice and how He loves us, or we can listen to the voices of negativity from our past or our misconceptions, explained Wilson. Through prayer, the Lord wants to take us back to the moments when our hearts were wounded so He can heal us. “The Lord wants to come into those hurt places and heal us so we can live our life in His everlasting love. It’s a desire of His that we should live most fully alive. In this healing, we can claim our blessedness, our ‘beloved-ness.’” Sister Faustina Maria emphasized how the Eucharist is a gift of Jesus’ love united to His Crucifixion. In Holy Communion, He is fully present with us as our Savior and Healer, she said, and we cannot love and live as Christians without Him. “We have Adoration, time in intimacy of love with the Beloved. And then we have Mass and Communion in which we live with the Beloved, letting the Beloved live through us. As members of His body, we are all called to be another Christ to the world,” Sister Faustina said. Father Joseph Mary , Eternal Word Television Network chaplain, described three types of miracles arising from the Blessed Sacrament: intellectual, moral and physical. In intellectual miracles, he explained, a person experiences a change of mind, in which they have a pro-found realization of God’s existence and His truth. Moral miracles are a miraculous strengthening of a person to live a genuine Christian life. Physical miracles are bodily healings. These miracles are seen throughout Church history, especially in the lives of the saints, and are tied to receiving or adoring the Eucharist. “Life can become overwhelming at times,” Father Joseph Mary said. “So just go before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He’ll give us light, the lamp with light enough for the next step. Maybe we’re not going to see a whole solution in the future, but we’re going to see the next step, the next positive thing to do. We’ll have a new hope in our heart that comes alive.” Diana Tetreault, general manager for Salt & Light Radio, said the radio station makes no profit from the conference and hopes at least to break even. However, the conferences are worth presenting, she added, because they are a part of the apostolic mission of the radio station to evangelize and teach. Next year’s conference is Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Boise Centre and online. “We are celebrating Year Three of the Eucharistic Revival, of being missionary and going out,” Carol Brown said. “We will start with Mass at the Cathedral and process to the Boise Centre. For those with limited mobility, we will have shuttles.” Registration for the 2024 conference opens on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Tuesday, July 16. Because of the success of the Idaho men’s and women’s conferences, they are adding two more events for Sal y Luz Radio: a men’s Hispanic conference in October and a women’s Hispanic conference in January. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the September 8 Idaho Catholic Register. The Nichols family celebrating the graduation of Missy’s daughter, Faith. From left to right Adam, Faith, Missy and Elle Nichols. (Courtesy Photo/Missy Nichols) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer “I’ve always viewed my life’s work in education as ministry,” said Missy Nichols, who sees her role in education, whether as a teacher or administrator, as a vocation. “No matter what we do in education, it is an opportunity to speak life into our students.” Nichols is the new vice principal of Academic Affairs at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. Nichols came to BK in 2016 after teaching in public high schools for 14 years. Her role as vice principal is her first in administration. “I think one of the awesome things that Missy brings to the table is that she’s just out of the classroom,” said Dr. Sarah Quilici, principal at Bishop Kelly. “She comes with her experience in teaching and knows what we need to do and think about as we make classroom decisions.” Nichols became a teacher because of the power of relationships and wanting to follow the example of her father, a Lutheran pastor. “I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” she said, “just as he follows Jesus’ footsteps by engaging with others, helping them grow and understand the value God intends them to know about themselves.” Wanting to engage with and help others, combined with her love for speaking, led her to choose a career in education. “Studying literature and participating in college discussions revealed to me the power of story in teaching, how both relationships and the study of human culture demonstrate virtue and teach lessons.” Nichols graduated in 1997 from Pacific Lutheran University in Calif., earning a bachelor’s in Secondary Education and Teaching. She received her master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Idaho in 2002. Through her love of athletics, Nichols also learned the values of teamwork, personal goal fulfillment and understanding different roles. She coached and participated in sports throughout her career. Nichols coached softball in public high schools in the West Ada school district (and taught English) before coming to Bishop Kelly to teach and coach in 2016. Although she is not Catholic, Nichols is now participating in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). Even before entering OCIA, she saw participating in a Catholic school as an opportunity to live out her faith. “How could someone not see education as a vocation, a calling?” she said. “To work with future generations and instill work habits, moral virtues, and a life-long love of learning, while revealing one’s love of a specific subject matter all nicely contribute to what the Catholic intellectual tradition requires.” Her interest in becoming Catholic came from her relationships with people who witnessed the faith. “These Catholics demonstrate by the way they live that their walk with Jesus is alive and real. If I didn’t see that, it wouldn’t have ever made me wonder if there was anything more or different than my experiences in evangelical denominations,” she said. Nichols has found that Catholic identity means different things to different people. Identity can mean displaying symbols of faith, such as the Cross or images of Mary and the saints. It can also mean integrating faith practices such as prayer in classrooms, daily Mass, or having opportunities for Adoration and Reconciliation. For Nichols, she has enjoyed the timelessness of Catholic teaching. “I have enjoyed the fidelity with which the Catholic Church has tried to preserve the teachings of Jesus through scripture, the evidence of His Holy Spirit working through people in the lives of the saints, and the commitment to traditions the Church maintains to provide unity.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the September 8 Idaho Catholic Register. Back row, second from left, Isaac Alsop is now Brother Ignatius Jerome, a novice in the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). Brother Ignatius Jerome is studying at the Dominican House of Studies in San Francisco. (Courtesy photo/Dominican House of Studies) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Isaac Alsop knew he was called to be a priest from the time he was 13. “Feeling called to the priesthood came simply from hearing my pastor, Father Ben Uhlenkott, give his vocation testimony 10 years ago at St. Mark’s,” Alsop said. (Father Uhlenkott is currently pastor at Risen Christ Parish in Boise.) Throughout high school and college, Alsop continued to discern that call, weighing many priesthood options. On Aug. 31 of this year, his discernment concluded when he entered the novitiate at the Dominican House of Studies in San Francisco where he will study to be a priest in the Order of Preachers. It wasn’t until Alsop was 21 that Religious life entered his plan for the priesthood. After meeting Religious priests at a Summer Projects program sponsored by Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), and meeting some women who were discerning Religious life, Alsop began discerning becoming a part of a community. “The previous call to priesthood remained un-changed, but a new element was added,” he said. “The support I received from family and friends has been phenomenal. Everyone encouraged me and understood acceptingly that things would be different in the future.” He is a cradle Catholic whose parents converted to Catholicism when they were adults. Although his parents were of a Protestant background, they had a deep faith history; one of his grandfathers was a Lutheran pastor. Isaac Alsop, 6 years-old, “celebrating Mass.” (Courtesy photos/Tammy Alsop) “My parents raised me solidly in the Faith,” he said. “I cannot resent my upbringing even slightly, as it provided me with everything I needed for what God has put before me now. Both parents were passionate about and interested in the Faith, and it was easy to make it my own.” Alsop explained that his family never considered Catholicism to be just a cultural aspect of life. “The journey away from them in Religious life is a fulfillment of, not a break with, the core of that life of Faith in my family.” Alsop went to St. Mark’s Catholic School from kindergarten through eighth grade. As a child, Isaac would sometimes pretend to be a priest and “celebrate Mass.” His parents encouraged him to consider the priesthood. In eighth grade, they allowed him to go to Mount Angel Seminary for a vocations discernment retreat. Alsop continued his education at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. While there, he was active in Knights for Life, a Respect Life club. He was also involved in “Apologhetti,” an inter-parish group of teens who met for talks on apologetics and a spaghetti dinner. Alsop graduated from BK in 2018. “By his late teenage years, he was pulled in many other directions,” said Alsop’s father, Abe. “He searched for truth in books from many other religions and ideologies, such as the Protestant “Left Behind” series, the Book of Mormon and the Koran.” Alsop’s search for truth ultimately led him to the philosophy program at Boise State University. “He was able to have deep conversations with people three times his age. This was a tough time for us as parents, but it only made his faith stronger as he discovered for himself the reasons for Catholic doctrines,” Abe Alsop said. Alsop, 23, parishioner of St. Mark’s, entered the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) this year. (Courtesy photos/Tammy Alsop) Alsop became involved with FOCUS at St. Paul’s Student Center at Boise State. In the summer of 2021, Isaac volunteered with FOCUS missionaries to serve at a youth camp in Wrightwood, Calif. During that trip, he met a Dominican priest whom he found to be a role model for how to be both socially charismatic and intellectually faithful. The experience from that summer prepared him to take on more leadership roles at St. Paul’s Student Center, where he served as an altar server and helped with maintenance. He also led discussions on faith and reason with other students. In his final year of college, he lived at the student center. He presented a series of talks for students called “Theology 101” and “Theology 102.” He also served as a sponsor for several students who joined the Church through participation in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. “Had it not been for St. Paul’s Student Center in Boise, I would be nowhere near the spiritual place I find myself today,” said Alsop. “The intensity and depth of the experiences at St. Paul’s that impacted me most were the fraternal, sacramental and intellectual life.” The friendships and sense of community at the student center were incredible, he explained. “The fraternal aspect alone would have made Religious life seem desirable,” he said. “Intellectually, a focus on the truths of the Faith and teaching them to others, after studying myself, has been a core mission of my time at St. Paul’s. That led me directly to an interest in the Dominican charism of preaching truth.” He described the sacramental life at St. Paul’s as “vibrant, reverent and constant.” He continued, “It wasn’t just a religious obligation for any of us. It was something worth giving one’s life for.” With his experience at St. Paul’s, Alsop also credits his family life and his dad for his interest in the intellectual side of Catholicism. Alsop graduated from Boise State University in the spring of this year with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. “We are humbled and amazed but not surprised to see Isaac joining the Dominican friars,” Abe Alsop said. “Isaac is blazing a new trail for his family while still retaining the best of his heritage. His intellectual journey made the Dominican order a natural fit for him.” However, Alsop did not immediately choose the Dominicans. “In high school, I thought about the Fraternity of St. Peter, seeking solidly orthodox doc-trine,” Alsop said. “I also thought about the Carmelites, wanting a contemplative spiritual atmosphere. I thought about the Jesuits enough to make St. Ignatius my confirmation saint, inspired by the zeal exuded by their founders to evangelize the world.” Alsop also considered being a diocesan priest. The role of a diocesan priest to teach and help others, to be a confessor and homilist, was something he wanted to live out, but the pull to a religious community remained with him throughout his discernment process. “I’ve found the Dominicans to be focused on evangelizing, contemplative yet active, doctrinally solid and studious. I found that most Dominicans in our province help parishes and spiritually father the flocks in them. The coalescing of every diverse element that drew me further to this vocation signified, to me, a call to the Dominicans,” he said. But to answer this call, he had to overcome his tendency to over-intellectualize and to stay shut up within himself. “There was a time when I misunderstood the Dominican charism as being primarily about studying truth. With this misunderstanding, my personal growth seemed to be pulling me away from the Order, and towards something where I could truly help people heal.” However, in his studies, Alsop found that St. Dominic himself, when famine engulfed the poor of his city, said, “How can I study from dead scrolls while living men die of hunger?” St. Dominic then sold all his books and bought food for the hungry. In reading about this, Alsop had a similar sense, asking himself, “How can I sit around thinking about philosophical minutiae while actual hearts and minds thirst for healing?” While contemplating this, Alsop found clarity and conviction about St. Dominic’s spirit and task. “Dominican life is not about hiding among bookshelves; it is about feeding the spiritually starving. All study is for preaching; it’s for others. After this realization, the only thing left to do was apply to the Order.” Before entering the novitiate, Alsop said he felt confident, not in his powers of discernment, but in God’s guidance. “While I have to admit that I don’t know where I’ll be in ten years, there comes a point where the time for doubt has passed. This is that time for me.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the September 8 Idaho Catholic Register. The Ulery family, from left to right, Hannah, Matt, Nolan, and Melea. Below, Matt and Melea (Photos by Heather M. Webster Photography, www.hmwebsterphoto.com) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer “The thing that makes catechetics different from other areas of education is that you’re teaching a relationship with a Person,” said Melea Ulery, the new director of the Office of Religious Education and Catechetical Leadership for the Diocese of Boise. Ulery began her role as director in August. “The way you teach people to love Jesus is different than how you teach people to do math. It’s intrinsically different.” That means making sure religious educators are equipped for success. Ulery wants to build relationships with catechists so she can serve them better. “I want to do everything I can to help them have the tools they need so they can minister to the people in their parishes in every capacity. I want to know their strengths and where they need help. I’m looking forward to working together.” Ulery said she wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember. A cradle Catholic, Ulery lived in Kansas, Missouri and Texas while growing up. “I’ve been to lots of churches and experienced lots of different people that make the Church so beautiful and vibrant,” she said. “I think it really just gave me a worldview and the resources to have a depth to my faith that has been helpful in my life.” Growing up in the Church, she can sympathize when kids feel like church is boring. But she can also tell kids with sincerity that going to Mass is important, that Jesus is truly present and wants to speak to their hearts. Her mother taught music at her parish school and inspired Ulery to pursue education. “I loved organizing things, helping with school supplies and helping people.” While in high school, her family lived in Houston, Texas. It was there, in a vibrant parish, that she owned her faith. “We had a great youth minister and a great pastor who were whole-heartedly invested in the youth,” she said. “As my own faith became more important to me, I thought, ‘Why would I ever want to teach anything else?’” From then on, she knew she was called to teach religion. Ulery graduated from Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio with bachelors degrees in Theology, Catechetics and Communications. She was involved in campus ministry and taught theology at a Catholic high school in Calif. for 10 years. When not teaching, she led retreats and gave presentations nationwide for Steubenville Youth Conferences. She moved to Idaho in 2014 with her husband and two children, and took a position with a Catholic curriculum company. She also assisted the Office of Religious Education and Catechetical Leadership by training catechists for Jackie Hopper, the former director. She and her family are members of Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian, and her children have attended St. Ignatius Catholic School since it opened in 2017. Ulery served on the school board of St. Ignatius last year. Ulery noted parishioners and catechists need to live out a genuine faith for a parish to have a fruitful religious education program. “We are not just transmitting information. We need to model our faith. We need to be loving and giving. We need to let Christ be incarnate in us — seeing Christ in others, seeing Christ in ourselves, and then sharing Christ with others. It’s a beautiful synthesis.” Catechesis, explained Ulery, forms minds and hearts so that people can encounter Christ in the Sacraments and in the people around them. “As catechists, we get to share that living joy and accompany others as we seek heaven together. My goal is to go to heaven and to help as many people get there with me as I can. There is nothing better.” “Our faith is not easy, but even through difficulties or spiritual deserts, there can be life. In those times that can be like winter, we know that spring is coming. Every Good Friday has an Easter Sunday; it’s the beautiful paradox of the Cross,” she said. Ulery explained that making faith a priority is important for all members of a parish and is essential for evangelization. If Catholics live their faith in joy, it attracts others to want to be a part of the Church, even if someone is not in formal ministry, and this is crucial for bringing people into the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). She concluded, “When all of us live out our faith in our modern, busy lives, people see that. It’s intriguing for others. Whether it’s for kids in the classroom or adults in OCIA, it’s that authentic witness of a Christ-filled, sacrament-filled life that people want.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

The following story appeared in the August 25 Idaho Catholic Register. From left to right, Ray Ineck, Mark Jaszkowski, Steve Green, Donna Gordon, Mark McCormack, Tim LaMott, Dan Maloney, Deacon Chris Privon, Greg Metsker. (ICR photos/Emily Woodham) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer The “Journey With Us” revitalization project for St. Mark’s Catholic School is complete. “The new chapel is the highlight of the many tasks undertaken this summer,” said Tim LaMott, a life-long parishioner, school alum, parent and grandparent, and supervisor of the renovations for St. Mark’s. When entering the newly renovated school, students and visitors look directly upon the chapel and see the tabernacle behind the altar. “Christ is truly at the center of our school,” said LaMott. From the chapel, a hall to the left leads to the middle school, while a hall to the right leads to the elementary school. “The chapel is amazing,” said Donna Gordon, principal of St. Mark’s. “Most of the woodwork in the chapel was made by St. Mark’s families.” Former school principal Dan Maloney helped produce the carved ornamentation on the chapel furniture using a digitally assisted process known as Computer Numerical Control. Mark Jaszkowski, a St. Mark’s parishioner and grandparent of students at the school, restored the presider’s and deacon’s chairs. The chairs were purchased by Father Paul O’Donnell, St. Mark’s pastor. Father O’Donnell also chose the new statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. St. Mark’s parishioners, Greg and Grace Metsker, whose children attend the school, made the new credence table and chair rails using wood from the original pews. The chair rails extend throughout the school to help protect the walls. The altar was made by Deacon Chris Privon who serves at St. Mark’s and whose grandchildren attend the school. Ray Ineck made the ambo, Mark McCormick made the tabernacle stand, Rob Green created the computeraided design and layout for the chapel, and Steve Green stained and sealed the chapel furniture. All of them are St. Mark’s parishioners and have children in the school. Two stained glass windows are from the original St. Mark’s church and are back lit with adjustable lighting. The chandeliers in the chapel are custom-made and have adjustable brightness. “Chairs are being used for seating to make the chapel space more flexible,” said Tim LaMott who oversaw the “Journey With Us” renovations. The space, he said, will be used for Mass, Adoration, sacramental preparation, theology classes and retreats. In addition to the chapel renovations, numerous updates were made to other parts of the school this summer. LaMott spent long hours ensuring goals were met on time, while an army of volunteers worked alongside contractors to finish the work before school started in August. The renovated school library features rolling book-shelves that make it easy to rearrange and clean the space. (ICR photos/Emily Woodham) The renovated school includes a new library with a circulation desk. “The stacks for the library are on wheels, making it simple to rearrange and clean the space,” LaMott said. The faculty lounge was enlarged and renovated with a dishwasher, cabinets and a bathroom. Old ceiling tiles were taken down, making the entrance to the elementary brighter. Updates were made to the gym, which also serves as the cafeteria, where new cooking surfaces make preparing and serving food easier. Even the school’s exterior was updated to unify the different construction phases, using a pattern of alternating brick and sandstone. As the school’s enrollment grew, new safety issues arose. Limited space to drop off and pick up students became a concern, so a concrete plaza with a railing was created to ensure student safety and prevent traffic blind spots. Although the construction phases are done, LaMott said the fundraising campaign still needs about $300,000 to cover final expenses. To donate to the “Journey With Us” campaign at St. Mark’s, contact Kathleen Brinegar at kbrinegar@ stmarksschoolboise.com. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Father Camilo’s pilgrimage to World Youth Day *Spanish Abajo Fathers Camilo and Cintra prepare for Mass with Pope Francis at WYD. (Photos courtesy of Father Camilo García) Padre Camilo y Padre Nelson Cintra, a punto de comenzar la celebración Eucarística, con el Papa Francisco en la JMJ. (Fotos cortesía de Padre Camilo García) By Vero Gutiérrez Staff Writer Participating in World Youth Day (WYD) was like celebrating a new Pentecost, said Father Camilo García, parish priest of Saint Nicholas in Rupert. Father Camilo traveled with the youth from Idaho led by the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization. The August 1- 8 pilgrimage was Father Camilo’s first WYD experience and his first visit to Europe, so he had many expectations, especially learning the histories of the places he visited. “I found there are many similarities between Spain and my country (Mexico),” said Father Camilo, “above all, in the type of housing, the food and the construction of the churches.” Celebrating with Pope Francis, cardinals, bishops, priests, and one and a half million young people left a mark on Father Camilo. “The universal Church manifested itself under a festive atmosphere of faith, following Christ and confessing Him in different languages,” Father Camilo said excitedly. “It didn’t matter what language people spoke — joy was manifested in everyone, and they shared the same spirit of joy.” Though the event was for youth and young adults, Father Camilo saw many parents accompanying children. One could see pilgrims of every age. Father Camilo shared that an atmosphere of brotherhood predominated, and everyone helped each other. For example, a picture went viral on social networks in which a young man named Lourenço, who requires a wheelchair, was lifted by fellow pilgrims so that he could see the Pope. Father Camilo noted this trip was a real pilgrimage, though, with its share of suffering. He explained it took him six hours to walk from his hotel in Lisbon to the vigil Mass in Tejo Park on Saturday, August 5. “It was a long journey through narrow streets, with cobblestones and many hills.” He explained it was common as temperatures were very high to see people lining up in front of the water fountains to drink. Father Camilo García gets ready to hear confessions at WYD. Portable confessionals were erected at the “City of Joy and Reconciliation.” (Photos courtesy of Father Camilo García) Padre Camilo García, posando para la fotografía, antes de iniciar la jornada de confesiones en la Ciudad de la Alegría de la Reconciliación. Al fondo, se pueden observar los confesionarios portátiles, que se realizaron para las confesiones. For Father Camilo, another special moment on his journey was hearing confessions. The place prepared for this healing sacrament was called the City of the Joy of Reconciliation. There, on a soccer field, some very creative portable confessionals were set up, allowing each young person to confess in his or her own language. While hearing confessions, Father Camilo received a gift from a young man from Panama. He was given a vestment like those received by priests who participated in World Youth Day in Panama in 2019. It was stamped with the image of theVirgin Mary. Father Camilo, who has a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, wore the vestment with great joy during the closing Mass that he concelebrated with Pope Francis and 10,000 other priests. Finally, Father Camilo affirmed that one of the unforgettable experiences of this World Youth Day was the joy of the young people, manifested in cheers, songs, dances, and their faith expressed with an attitude of deep respect towards Jesus in the Eucharist. “In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, everyone knelt in an attitude of deep adoration and contemplation, said Father Camilo.” In the midst of a secularized society, it is impressive to see hundreds of thousands of young people who manifest their faith without reservation. This was surprising, not only for those of us who were pilgrims, but even for people who were not part of World Youth Day.” Viviendo un nuevo Pentecostés Peregrinación de Padre Camilo a la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud Por Vero Gutiérrez Colaboradora Participar de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud (JMJ), ha sido como celebrar un nuevo Pentecostés, afirmó el Padre Camilo García, párroco de Saint Nicholas en Rupert. Él viajó con los jóvenes de Idaho, dirigidos por la Oficina Diocesana para la Evangelización de Jóvenes y Jóvenes Adultos. La peregrinación del 1 al 8 de agosto, fue su primera experiencia en la JMJ y estar por primera vez en Europa, lo hicieron una visita con mucha expectativa para aprender la historia de estos lugares. “Encontré que hay muchas similitudes en España y mi país México”, compartió Padre Camilo “sobre todo, en el tipo de viviendas, la comida y la construcción de las iglesias.” Una de las experiencias que dejó una huella en la vida de Padre Camilo en este viaje, fue haber participado de esta celebración con el Papa Francisco, cardenales, obispos, sacerdotes y 1 millón y medio de jóvenes. “La Iglesia Universal se manifestó en un ambiente festivo de fe, siguiendo a Cristo y confesándolo en diferentes lenguas” aseguró emocionado el Padre Camilo “no importaba que lengua hablaran las personas, en todos se manifestaban la alegría, compartían un mismo espíritu de gozo como en Pentecostés.” Aunque el evento fue para jóvenes y adultos jóvenes, el Padre Camilo vio a muchos padres acompañando a sus hijos pequeños. Se podían ver peregrinos de todas las edades. El Padre Camilo comentó que predominaba un ambiente de hermandad, en el que todos se ayudaban. Por ejemplo, hay una fotografía que se hizo viral en las redes sociales, donde se ve a un joven de nombre Lourenço, quien está en una silla de ruedas y fue levantado por diversas personas junto a él para que pudiera saludar al Papa. Padre Camilo dijo que este viaje fue una verdadera peregrinación, aunque con su parte de sufrimiento. Explicó que le tomó seis horas caminar desde su hotel en Lisboa hasta la Misa de vigilia en el Parque Tejo el sábado 5 de agosto. “Fue un largo viaje por calles estrechas, con adoquines y muchas colinas”. Explicó que era común ver gente haciendo fila frente a las fuentes de agua para beber ya que las temperaturas eran muy altas. Otra de las experiencias memorables en esta jornada, fue el momento de escuchar las confesiones. El lugar donde se preparó todo para realizar las confesiones fue llamado la Ciudad de la Alegría de la Reconciliación. Ahí, en un campo de fútbol, se montaron unos muy creativos confesionarios portátiles, con la posibilidad de que cada joven pudiera confesarse en su propio idioma. Mientras escuchaba las confesiones, el Padre Camilo recibió un ornamento sacerdotal, de un joven de Panamá. Este era un ornamento igual a los que recibieron los sacerdotes que participaron en la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud, en Panamá, en 2019. Tenía estampada la Imagen de Nuestra Señora. Fue un regalo muy especial para él, porque es devoto de la Virgen María y con mucha alegría lo usó durante la Misa de clausura, que concelebró con el Papa Francisco y 10 millones de sacerdotes. Finalmente, el Padre Camilo, afirmó que uno de los detalles inolvidables en esta Jornada Mundial, será la alegría de los jóvenes manifestada en porras, cantos, bailes y su fe expresada con una actitud de profundo respeto hacia Jesús Eucaristía. “Ante la presencia del Santísimo Sacramento, todos se ponían de rodillas en una actitud de profunda adoración y contemplación, dijo el Padre Camilo “En medio de una sociedad secularizada, es impresionante ver a miles de jóvenes que manifiesten su fe sin reservas, esto era sorprendente, no solo para quienes participamos por primera vez de este encuentro mundial, sino incluso, para las personas que no eran parte de él.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.

Bishop Kelly’s football team hiked to Table Rock at sunrise to kick off their season. (Courtesy Photo/Katie Hayes) By Emily Woodham Staff Writer Dr. Sarah Quilici is the new principal of Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. “People keep asking me if I’m excited to come into this role, and I am. Over the past 15 years, I feel like God has prepared me for this role by forming me first at Bishop Kelly, then principal for St. Joes and eventually as Superintendent of Catholic Schools.” Quilici, who has been in education since 2002, started her career in administration 15 years ago at Bishop Kelly as assistant principal. In 2011, she served as assistant principal at Timberline High School, a public school in Boise. Three years later, she became principal at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Boise. In 2017, she was appointed Superintendent of Catholic Schools, overseeing 15 Catholic K-8 schools and two Catholic high schools in Idaho. She returned to Bishop Kelly last year as Vice Principal of Academic Affairs. Quilici holds a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho, an Education Specialist in Administration from the University of Idaho, and a master’s in English and a bachelor’s in English Teaching from Boise State University. Quilici is also a wife and mother of four. All her children attend Catholic schools. Her oldest child is a sophomore at Bishop Kelly. “Bishop Kelly has grown and changed,” Quilici said. “And we need to look to the future and see how to continue to grow and change.” “I was blessed to be here last year as an assistant principal,” she said. During that time, Bishop Kelly undertook an intensive self-study as part of their accreditation process, to see where the school needed to grow. “Four goals arose from that process, which will guide us over the next five years. The goals are to impact mind, body and spirit. We’re still working on the strategic plan, but one of those goals is to make sure we’re integrating the Faith across all the curriculum in an intentional way.” This year the school will have an accreditation visit from the Western Catholic Education Association. “A visiting team will evaluate our self-study. They’ll go into all of our classrooms and attend our all-school Mass. They will examine all parts of our program,” she said. In their efforts to obtain continued accreditation, Bishop Kelly wants to make sure they are offering the best for their students, she noted. “Our enrollment is at 977. We have grown so much from the 600 students enrolled 15 years ago. We want to do a curriculum audit, to really look at our course offerings and make sure we are staying competitive from an academic standpoint,” she said. Students attending “Freshman Academy,” From left to right, Rowen Belew, Jamie Baker, Catherine Boot. (Courtesy Photos/Bishop Kelly High School) Students attending “Freshman Academy,”, from left to right, Aidan Branley, Jaxson Brady, Leyton Allen, Henry Anderson. (Courtesy Photos/Bishop Kelly High School) One of the main challenges in education, noted Quilici, is artificial intelligence (AI). “We’re going to have to talk a lot about AI this year. How do we teach students to use that for good? There can be benefits to AI, but we want to make sure that students are still thinking for themselves.” To help build community at the school, Bishop Kelly is starting a “house system.” Many other Catholic schools already take this approach. “Each student will belong to a family group, and each house will have eight family groups,” she said. The eight houses are named for virtues in Latin: Veritas (Truth), Caritas (Love), Integritas (Integrity), Servium (Service), Gaudium (Joy), Fortis (Strong/Courageous), Fidelis (Faith), and Nobilitas (Honor). The families are named for saints, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. Joan of Arc, St. John Chrysostom and St. Thomas Aquinas. The families and houses will have activities and friendly competitions with each other. “We think this will be really good for the students,” she said. In their efforts to obtain continued accreditation, Bishop Kelly wants to make sure they are offering the best for their students, she noted. “Our enrollment is at 977. We have grown so much from the 600 students enrolled 15 years ago. We want to do a curriculum audit, to really look at our course offerings and make sure we are staying competitive from an academic standpoint,” she said. One of the main challenges in education, noted Quilici, is artificial intelligence (AI). “We’re going to have to talk a lot about AI this year. How do we teach students to use that for good? There can be benefits to AI, but we want to make sure that students are still thinking for themselves.” To help build community at the school, Bishop Kelly is starting a “house system.” Many other Catholic schools already take this approach. “Each student will belong to a family group, and each house will have eight family groups,” she said. The eight houses are named for virtues in Latin: Veritas (Truth), Caritas (Love), Integritas (Integrity), Servium (Service), Gaudium (Joy), Fortis (Strong/Courageous), Fidelis (Faith), and Nobilitas (Honor). The families are named for saints, including St. Teresa of Avila, St. Joan of Arc, St. John Chrysostom and St. Thomas Aquinas. The families and houses will have activities and friendly competitions with each other. “We think this will be really good for the students,” she said. Quilici is looking forward to the school year. “Looking back on the path on which God has put me, that brings me to this spot, I can see what He’s done to prepare and equip me for it. But my prayer is still that of Solomon: I need wisdom and understanding to do this job. That’s my daily prayer, that I be given wisdom and understanding.” If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more like it, please consider buying a subscription to the Idaho Catholic Register. Your $20 yearly subscription also supports the work of the Diocese of Boise Communications Department, which includes not only the newspaper, but this website, social media posts and videos. You can subscribe here , or through your parish, or send a check to 1501 S. Federal Way, Boise, ID, 83705: or call 208-350-7554 to leave a credit card payment. Thank you, and God bless you.